Sixty-three percent of registered voters oppose building an AI data center within 10 miles of their home, and 13% support one, according to the CNBC All-America Economic Survey published Saturday. Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies surveyed 1,000 registered voters from October 14 to 18.
The full survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 points. The data-center question went to about half the sample, roughly 500 voters, and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 points.
Opposition to a nearby facility crosses party lines. Democrats oppose one 80% to 4%. Among all Republicans and Republican-leaning voters, 24% support a data center near their home. Among self-identified MAGA supporters, 29% support a nearby facility and 40% oppose it.
Key facts
- 0163% of registered voters oppose an AI data center within 10 miles of home; 13% support one.
- 02The survey of 1,000 voters ran October 14-18; the data-center question carries a 4.38-point margin of error.
- 03Democrats oppose a nearby data center 80% to 4%; 24% of Republicans and GOP-leaning voters support one.
- 0452% favor pausing advanced AI until Congress passes safety rules; 32% favor pushing ahead to keep pace with China.
- 05On data-center expansion, 32% trust Democrats more, 24% trust Republicans more and 27% trust neither.
The survey separates local siting from AI development itself. Nearly 55% of MAGA supporters want companies to keep developing advanced AI while Congress works on rules, compared with 27% who favor a pause.
Across the full electorate, the split runs the other way. Fifty-two percent favor pausing advanced AI development until Congress passes safety rules, while 32% favor pushing ahead so the US keeps pace with China. Democrats favor the pause 70% to 18%.
Neither party holds a clear advantage on the issue. Asked which party would better handle data-center expansion, 32% of voters chose Democrats, 24% chose Republicans and 27% said neither.
The industry's case centers on local economics. Dan DeOrio of the Data Center Coalition said data centers bring jobs, investment and tax revenue, and that operators plan to pay for the power their facilities use.
President Donald Trump has said on Truth Social that data center developers should compensate communities financially and supply their own power.
The results track with an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll of 2,545 adults conducted October 9 to 13, which found 72% opposed a new data center in their own community and 66% opposed new data centers nationally.
The survey arrives ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, with hyperscaler capital spending expected to reach about $800 billion this year.
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